Issue7_art8

)) "ROTHER ,AWRENCE OF

THE 2ESURRECTION AND 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD &R 2OBERT (ALE / 3 " #AM !BSTRACT "ROTHER ,AWRENCE OF THE 2ESURRECTION A HUMBLE SEVENTEENTH CEN TURY SHOEMAKER IN A LARGE 0ARISIAN ABBEY DEVELOPED A REMARKABLE PRACTICE OF CONSTANT MINDFULNESS OF THE PRESENCE OF 'OD (IS LETTERS WERE COLLECTED AND HIS SAYINGS RECORDED BY A THEOLOGIAN WHO CARRIED ON A CONVERSATION WITH "ROTHER ,AWRENCE OVER A PERIOD OF DECADES 4HE RESULT WAS 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD WHICH IS STILL CHERISHED AS A CLASSIC AMONG BOOKS ABOUT #HRISTIAN PRAYER

"

ROTHER ,AWRENCE OF THE 2ESURRECTION THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY $ISCALCED #ARMELITE BROTHER PROPOSED THAT NOTHING CAN BETTER TRANSFORM THE LIFE OF A #HRISTIAN THAN THE PRESENCE OF 'OD IF ONE CONSCIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND REVERENCES THAT PRESENCE BY ABIDING IN IT IN FAITH AND LOVE 4HIS SIMPLE YET PROFOUND TEACHING PRESERVED IN 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD A COMPENDIUM OF "ROTHER ,AWRENCE S WRITINGS AND SAYINGS l RST PUBLISHED IN HAS BEEN EMBRACED BY COUNTLESS #HRISTIANS THROUGH THE SUBSEQUENT CENTURIES "ROTHER ,AWRENCE S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRAC TICE CONTINUE TO ENJOY A WIDE APPRECIATION TODAY 4HE RENOWNED #ATHOLIC SPIRITUAL WRITER &R (ENRI .OUWEN FOR EXAMPLE WRITES IN HIS INTRODUCTION TO A RECENT EDITION OF ,AWRENCE S BOOK 7HEN ) WAS EXPOSED TO HIS THOUGHTS FOR THE l RST TIME THEY SEEMED SIMPLE EVEN SOMEWHAT NAÆVE AND UNREALISTIC BUT THE DEEPER ) ENTERED INTO THEM AND THE LONGER ) REm ECTED ON THEM THE MORE ) BECAME AWARE THAT "ROTHER ,AWRENCE S ADVICE TO WALK CONSTANTLY IN THE PRESENCE OF >HHJ: D8ID7:G

&R 2OBERT (ALE / 3 " #AM

'OD IS NOT JUST A NICE IDEA FOR A SEVENTEENTH CENTURY MONK BUT A MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGE TO OUR PRESENT DAY LIFE SITUATION .OUWEN HIMSELF GOES ON TO SUGGEST THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF THIS PRACTICE /NE OF THE MOST STIMULATING ASPECTS OF THIS PRECIOUS BOOK IS "ROTHER ,AWRENCE S DEEP CONVICTION THAT PRAYER IS NOT SAYING PRAYERS BUT A WAY OF LIVING IN WHICH ALL WE DO BECOMES PRAYER 4HIS SIMPLE BUT DIFl CULT WAY OF "ROTHER ,AWRENCE IS INDEED A GREAT CHALLENGE FOR US TODAY )T IS A HARD WAY BUT A WAY WORTH FOLLOWING )T IS THE WAY TO 'OD "ECAUSE OF ITS SIMPLICITY AND DIRECTNESS "ROTHER ,AWRENCE S TEACHING IS ALSO BEING DISCOVERED AS A RESOURCE FOR THE INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE "ORN AS .ICHOLAS (ERMAN INTO HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE &RENCH ,ORRAINE IN "ROTHER ,AWRENCE LEARNED #HRISTIAN PRINCIPLES FROM HIS PARENTS BUT RECEIVED LITTLE OR NO FORMAL EDUCATION (E WENT ON TO MILITARY SERVICE THEN LIVED A PERIOD IN SOLITUDE )N HE ENTERED THE $ISCALCED #ARMELITE MONASTERY IN 0ARIS AS LAY BROTHER (E WORKED AS A COOK AND LATER AS A REPAIRER OF SHOES FOR THE LARGE MONASTIC COMMUNITY 2EGARDING HIS INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION THERE #ONRAD $E -EESTER NOTES $URING THE NOVITIATE THE LAY BROTHERS ATTENDED CERTAIN FORMATION CLASSES WITH THE YOUNG CLERICS ,AWRENCE POSSESSED A CERTAIN IN TELLECTUAL TRAINING (E SOMETIMES SPOKE OF THE BOOKS HE HAD READ OR EXAMINED (E HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MANY l NE SERMONS IN THE MONASTERY CHURCH OR THOSE OF 0ARIS $E -EESTER STRESSES THE INm UENCE ON ,AWRENCE OF 4ERESA OF !VILA AND *OHN OF THE #ROSS THE TWO GIANT FOUNDERS OF THE /RDER OF $ISCALCED #AR MELITES #ERTAINLY ,AWRENCE WOULD HAVE FELT HIS PRACTICE WAS CONl RMED BY 4ERESA S TEACHINGS FOR INSTANCE HER ENCOURAGING WORDS )F YOU SPEAK STRIVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE /NE WITH WHOM YOU ARE SPEAKING IS PRESENT WITHIN )F YOU LISTEN REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THE /NE WHO IS VERY CLOSE TO YOU WHEN (E SPEAKS )N SUM BEAR IN MIND THAT YOU CAN IF YOU WANT AVOID EVER WITHDRAWING FROM SUCH GOOD COMPANY )F YOU CAN PRACTICE THIS RECOLLECTION OFTEN DURING THE DAY !S YOU BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO IT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE BENEl T EITHER SOONER OR LATER /NCE THIS RECOLLECTION IS GIVEN BY THE ,ORD YOU WILL NOT EXCHANGE IT FOR ANY TREASURE ,AWRENCE S DESCRIPTION OF HIS SOUL AS EXPERIENCING AFTER A DARK NIGHT PERIOD hA DEEP INNER PEACE AS IF IT HAD FOUND ITS CENTER AND PLACE OF REST v VERY MUCH ECHOES THE LANGUAGE OF *OHN OF THE #ROSS AS $E -EESTER POINTS

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4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD

OUT 4HERE ARE DIRECT ECHOES OF *OHN OF THE #ROSS TOO IN THE WAY ,AWRENCE DESCRIBES HIS OWN PRACTICE ) KEEP MYSELF IN HIS PRESENCE BY SIMPLE ATTENTIVENESS AND A GENERAL LOVING AWARENESS OF 'OD THAT ) CALL hACTUAL PRESENCE OF 'ODv OR BETTER A QUIET AND SECRET CONVERSATION OF THE SOUL WITH 'OD THAT IS LASTING 4HE PHRASE hGENERAL LOVING AWARENESS OF 'ODv INDICATES THAT ALTHOUGH ,AWRENCE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO PARTICULAR IMAGES AND MODELS OF 'OD IN HIS ATTEMPT TO ARTICULATE HIS EXPERIENCE HE LOCKS HIMSELF INTO NO PARTICULAR WAY OF UNDERSTANDING 'OD (IS EXPERIENCE LIKE THAT OF *OHN OF THE #ROSS

IS AT ITS HEART RADICALLY APOPHATIC THAT IS IT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED BY SAYING WHAT IT IS NOT !ND THIS IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF ,AWRENCE S SPIRITUALITY HIS OWN INEFFABLE EXPERIENCE 4HUS ,AWRENCE WAS NOT JUST THEORIZING THE PRACTICE HE PROPOSED HE ALSO LIVED OVER THE DECADES AND IN AN EVER MORE ONGOING WAY )T IS ALSO SUSTAINED AND CONl RMED BY THE EXPERIENCE AND TEACHING OF THE TWO FOUNDERS OF HIS ORDER BOTH DOCTORS OF THE #HURCH 4HROUGH THEM ESPE CIALLY HIS PRACTICE IS ROOTED IN THE EARLIER CONTEMPLATIVE h) KEEP MYSELF IN HIS HERITAGE OF #HRISTIANITY BACK TO 3CRIPTURE ITSELF )T IS NOT SURPRISING THEN THAT INDIRECT REFERENCES TO 3CRIPTURE CAN PRESENCE BY SIMPLE BE FOUND THROUGHOUT 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD #ERTAINLY THE THEMES OF ABIDING IN 'OD OF CONSTANT PRAYER ATTENTIVENESS AND AND OF SEEKING 'OD S CONSTANT PRESENCE OCCUR REGULARLY IN 3CRIPTURE A GENERAL LOVING "ROTHER ,AWRENCE DID NOT HIMSELF WRITE 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD 2ATHER HIS BIOGRAPHER AND EDITOR AWARENESS OF 'OD v -ONSIGNOR *OSEPH DE "EAUFORT A VICAR GENERAL AND THEO LOGIAN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF 0ARIS GATHERED SIXTEEN OF ,AWRENCE S LETTERS AND SOME OF HIS MAXIMS AND JOINED THEM WITH SUMMARIES "EAUFORT HAD WRIT TEN OF FOUR OF HIS OWN CONVERSATIONS WITH ,AWRENCE "EAUFORT ALSO ADDED A EULOGY AND BIOGRAPHY AND OTHER SECTIONS TO l LL OUT THE VOLUME 4HE BOOK WAS PUBLISHED IN &RENCH IN TWO YEARS AFTER ,AWRENCE S DEATH 4HUS OUR CONTACT WITH ,AWRENCE IS MEDIATED BY "EAUFORT S WORK 4O WHAT EXTENT MIGHT THE THEOLOGIAN HAVE SOUGHT TO POLISH OR OTHERWISE MODIFY THE THOUGHT OF THE SIMPLE LAY BROTHER $E -EESTER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME THEOLOGICAL EMBELLISHING AND PERSONAL ELABORATIONS

BUT HE ALSO NOTES THAT "EAUFORT HAD hFREQUENT CONTACTS WITH "ROTHER ,AW RENCE OVER A PERIOD OF THIRTY l VE YEARS v $E -EESTER CONCLUDES 4HERE IS NO REASON TO DOUBT THAT ;"EAUFORT= MAINTAINED ,AWRENCE S LINE OF THOUGHT %VEN IF CHRONOLOGY OR TEXTUAL CRITICISM ARE NOT HIS >HHJ: D8ID7:G

&R 2OBERT (ALE / 3 " #AM

STRONG POINTS "EAUFORT IS NONETHELESS AN UPRIGHT DISCREET AND FAITH FUL MAN 3UZANNE "OUCHERAUX SAID IT WELL THE BIOGRAPHY IS hOF TOO PURE A VEIN AND THE TONE OF THE ACCOUNTS TOO SINCERE FOR US TO DOUBT THE l DELITY OF A WITNESS LESS CONCERNED WITH DESCRIBING THE MAN THAN WITH CONVEYING THE WORDS OF A SAINT v )N WRITING HIS LETTERS AND IN CONVERSING WITH "EAUFORT AND OTHERS IT WAS CLEARLY NOT ,AWRENCE S INTENT TO ENGAGE IN ACADEMIC DISQUISITIONS OR THEORETICAL DEBATES 2ATHER HIS SOLE CONCERN WAS TO BEAR WITNESS TO A PRAC TICE THAT HE WISHED OTHERS TO PRACTICE ,AWRENCE WAS KNOWN TO MANIFEST A SOMEWHAT GRUFF MANNER UNTIL HE WAS SURE OF SOMEONE S SINCERITY 7E SEE THIS IN "EAUFORT S RECORD WRITTEN WITH ADMIRABLE l DELITY AND HUMILITY OF HIS l RST CONVERSATION WITH ,AWRENCE IN WHICH ,AWRENCE ALMOST RUDELY REFERS TO "EAUFORT S WORK AS THEOLOGIAN ;(E SAID= THAT IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT SELF ABANDONMENT TO 'OD TO THE EXTENT THAT HE WILLED WE MUST WATCH OVER ALL THE MOVEMENTS OF THE SOUL SINCE IT CAN BECOME ENTANGLED IN SPIRITUAL THINGS AS WELL AS IN THE MOST BASE 'OD GIVES THE NECESSARY LIGHT TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE TRUE DESIRE TO BE WITH HIM AND THAT IF ) HAD THIS INTENTION ) COULD ASK TO SEE HIM WHENEVER ) WANTED WITHOUT FEAR OF BOTHERING HIM AND IF NOT ) OUGHT NOT TO COME TO SEE HIM AT ALL ,AWRENCE DOES NOT HOLD BACK IN PROPOSING THE SPIRITUAL EFl CACY AND POWER OF HIS PRACTICE AS WELL AS ITS SIMPLICITY 4HE HOLIEST MOST ORDINARY AND MOST NECESSARY PRACTICE OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS THAT OF THE PRESENCE OF 'OD )T IS TO TAKE DELIGHT IN AND BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO HIS DIVINE COMPANY SPEAKING HUMBLY AND CONVERSING WITH HIM ALL THE TIME AT EVERY MOMENT WITHOUT RULE OR MEASURE

ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF TEMPTATION SUFFERING ARIDITY WEARINESS EVEN INl DELITY AND SIN 7E MUST CONTINUALLY APPLY OURSELVES SO THAT ALL OUR ACTIONS WITHOUT EXCEPTION BECOME A KIND OF BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH 'OD NOT IN A CONTRIVED MANNER BUT COMING FROM THE PURITY AND SIMPLICITY OF OUR HEARTS )T IS EVIDENT FROM THIS EMPHATIC PASSAGE THAT ,AWRENCE DID NOT FAVOR ADOPTING A SERIES OF COMPLICATED SPIRITUAL PRACTICES RATHER HE URGED A DIS CIPLINED FOCUSING ON THE ONE PRACTICE OR MORE IMMEDIATELY ON THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF 'OD (E TAUGHT THAT THE ONGOING COMMUNION WITH 'OD MUST BE hWITHOUT RULE OR MEASURE NOT IN A CONTRIVED MANNER v ,AWRENCE S PRACTICE WAS THUS RADICALLY SIMPLE $E -EESTER CHARACTERIZES IT AS hTHE METHODLESS METHOD v

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4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD

*ESUS SUMMED UP ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS IN THE TWOFOLD COMMAND MENT OF LOVE &OR "ROTHER ,AWRENCE IN A SIMILAR WAY EVERYTHING IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE WANTS TO BE SUMMED UP IN LOVE !ND THIS LOVE IS ENCOUNTERED IN MUTUAL PRESENCEÂ&#x2C6;'OD S LOVING PRESENCE TO US OUR RESPONDING PRESENCE TO 'OD "EAUFORT SUMMARIZES ONE OF HIS CONVERSATIONS WITH ,AWRENCE AS FOLLOWS !LL PENANCES AND OTHER EXERCISES SERVE ONLY AS A MEANS TO REACH UNION WITH 'OD BY LOVE /NCE ;,AWRENCE= HAD CONSIDERED THIS CAREFULLY HE REALIZED IT WAS SHORTER TO GO STRAIGHT THERE BY AN EXERCISE OF CONTINUAL LOVE

BY DOING EVERYTHING FOR THE LOVE OF 'OD ;(E SAID= THAT THE ACTIONS OF THE UNDERSTANDING ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF THE WILL FOR THE FORMER AMOUNTED TO LITTLE WHILE THE LATTER WERE EVERYTHING /NLY LOVING AND REJOICING WITH 'OD TRULY MATTER %VEN IF WE DID ALL THE PENANCES POSSIBLE THEY WOULD NOT SO MUCH AS TAKE AWAY ONE SINGLE SIN IF THEY WERE SEPARATED FROM LOVE 7ITHOUT WORRYING WE MUST LOOK TO THE BLOOD OF #HRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SIN WORKING ONLY AT LOVING 'OD WITH OUR WHOLE HEART ;(E SAID= THAT HE THOUGHT NEITHER OF DEATH NOR OF HIS SINS NOR OF PARADISE NOR OF HELL BUT ONLY OF DOING LITTLE THINGS FOR THE LOVE OF 'OD SINCE HE WAS NOT CAPABLE OF DOING GREAT THINGS 4HIS CENTRAL THEME OF LOVE RETURNS THROUGHOUT 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RES ENCE OF 'OD )T REVEALS A REMARKABLY SIMPLIl ED AND EVANGELICAL APPROACH TO SPIRITUALITY EVEN IN AN AGE WHEN FEAR OF DAMNATION TENDED TO GENERATE AUSTERE AND COMPLEX PRACTICES ;(E SAID= THAT HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN GOVERNED BY LOVE WITH NO OTHER INTEREST AND HAVING ONCE DECIDED TO PERFORM ALL HIS ACTIONS FOR THE LOVE OF 'OD HE WAS AT PEACE (E REASONED IN THIS WAY h) ENTERED RELIGIOUS LIFE SOLELY FOR THE LOVE OF 'OD AND HAVE TRIED TO ACT FOR HIM ALONE 7HETHER ) BE DAMNED OR SAVED ) ALWAYS WANT TO ACT PURELY FOR HIS LOVE AT LEAST ) CAN SAY THAT UNTIL ) DIE ) WILL DO WHATEVER ) CAN TO LOVE HIM v ,AWRENCE HAD BEGUN HIS SPIRITUAL JOURNEY IN PAIN AND DARKNESS AND WITH A MORE DISCURSIVE FORM OF PRAYER CONCERNED WITH THE hLAST THINGSv h$URING THE l RST YEARS ) ORDINARILY THOUGHT ABOUT DEATH JUDGMENT HELL

PARADISE AND MY SINS WHEN ) PRAYED ) CONTINUED IN THIS FASHION FOR A FEW YEARS v (IS MEDITATION PERIODS SPENT IN THIS WAY DID NOT BRING HIM GREAT SERENITY OR TRANSFORMATION OF HEART AND MIND "EAUFORT REPORTS THAT ,AW RENCE SPOKE OF SPENDING THE REGULAR MEDITATION PERIODS l GHTING OFF THOUGHTS

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&R 2OBERT (ALE / 3 " #AM

AND FALLING INTO THEM AGAIN SO THAT HE COULD NEVER PRAY AS HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO ,AWRENCE HIMSELF WROTE OF THIS PERIOD OF ANGUISH ) WILL ADMIT THAT DURING THE l RST TEN YEARS ) SUFFERED A GREAT DEAL 4HE APPREHENSION THAT ) DID NOT BELONG TO 'OD AS ) WISHED MY PAST SINS ALWAYS BEFORE MY EYES AND THE LAVISH GRACES 'OD GAVE ME WERE THE SUM AND SUBSTANCE OF ALL MY WOES )T SEEMED TO ME THAT ALL CREATURES REASON AND 'OD HIMSELF WERE AGAINST ME AND THAT FAITH ALONE WAS ON MY SIDE !S $E -EESTER NOTES ,AWRENCE HERE ECHOES DIRECTLY SOME OF *OHN OF THE #ROSS S WRITINGS ABOUT THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SENSES AND OF THE SPIRIT 7ILLIAM *OHNSTON 3 * ARGUES THAT A #HRISTIAN CONTEMPLATIVE IS ONE WHO EXPERIENCES A DEEP SENSE OF $IVINE 0RESENCE WHEREAS A #HRISTIAN MYSTIC IS ONE WHO HAS ALSO JOURNEYED THROUGH THE PURIl CATION OF THE DARK NIGHTS )N TERMS OF *OHNSTON S DEl NITIONS ,AWRENCE WAS BOTH A CONTEMPLATIVE AND A MYSTIC "UT ,AWRENCE S RESOLUTE FOCUS ON 'OD S PRESENCE BROUGHT HIM OUT OF ANGUISH AND DARKNESS INTO A JOY THAT WAS ENDURING AND OFTEN OF GREAT INTENSITY ) GAVE UP ALL DEVOTIONS AND PRAYERS THAT WERE NOT REQUIRED AND ) DEVOTED MYSELF EXCLUSIVELY TO REMAINING ALWAYS IN HIS HOLY PRESENCE 4HIS SOMETIMES RESULTS IN INTERIOR AND OFTEN EXTERIOR CONTENT MENT AND JOYS SO GREAT THAT ) HAVE TO PERFORM CHILDISH ACTS APPEARING MORE LIKE FOLLY THAN DEVOTION TO CONTROL THEM AND KEEP THEM FROM SHOWING OUTWARDLY #ERTAINLY HIS FOCUSED PRACTICE EFFECTED AN AMAZING TRANSFORMATION OF HIS OWN MIND AND HEART DRAWING HIM OUT OF DEEP ANGUISH AND FEAR INTO SUPERABUNDANT HAPPINESS (E EXPRESSED HIS EXPERIENCE OF 'OD AS OF A TRAN SCENDENT KING BUT ALSO OF A TENDER LOVER AND A NOURISHING MOTHER ) ASK HIM PARDON AND ABANDON MYSELF INTO HIS HANDS SO HE CAN DO WITH ME AS HE PLEASES &AR FROM CHASTISING ME THIS +ING FULL OF GOOD NESS AND MERCY LOVINGLY EMBRACES ME SEATS ME AT HIS TABLE WAITS ON ME HIMSELF GIVES ME THE KEYS TO HIS TREASURES AND TREATS ME IN ALL THINGS AS HIS FAVORITE HE CONVERSES WITH ME AND TAKES DELIGHT IN ME IN COUNTLESS WAYS WITHOUT EVER SPEAKING OF FORGIVENESS OR TAKING AWAY MY PREVIOUS FAULTS !LTHOUGH ) BEG HIM TO FASHION ME ACCORDING TO HIS HEART ) SEE MYSELF STILL WEAKER AND MISERABLE YET EVER MORE CARESSED BY 'OD -Y MOST TYPICAL APPROACH IS THIS SIMPLE ATTENTIVENESS AND GENERAL LOVING AWARENESS OF 'OD FROM WHICH ) DERIVE GREATER SWEETNESS AND SATISFACTION THAN AN INFANT RECEIVES FROM HIS MOTHER S

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4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD

BREAST 4HEREFORE IF ) MAY DARE USE THE EXPRESSION ) WOULD GLADLY CALL THIS STATE THE hBREASTS OF 'ODv BECAUSE OF THE INDESCRIBABLE SWEETNESS ) TASTE AND EXPERIENCE THERE !ND ELSEWHERE IN A LETTER TO A REVERED NUN HE WRITES IN THE THIRD PERSON BUT EVIDENTLY OF HIMSELF 9OU WILL SEE THAT HIS PRINCIPAL CONCERN THROUGHOUT THE MORE THAN FORTY YEARS HE HAS BEEN IN RELIGIOUS LIFE HAS BEEN ALWAYS TO BE WITH 'OD AND TO DO SAY OR THINK NOTHING THAT COULD DISPLEASE HIM (E HAS NO OTHER INTEREST THAN THE PURE LOVE OF 'OD WHO DESERVES INl NITELY MORE BESIDES (E IS NOW SO ACCUSTOMED TO THIS DIVINE PRESENCE THAT HE RECEIVES CONSTANT HELP IN EVERY SITUATION (IS SOUL HAS BEEN ENJOY ING CONTINUAL INNER CONSOLATIONS FOR ABOUT THIRTY YEARS 4HESE EXPERIENCES MAKE HIM SO CERTAIN THAT 'OD IS ALWAYS IN THE DEPTHS OF HIS SOUL THAT HE HAS NO DOUBTS ABOUT IT NO MATTER WHAT HE MAY DO OR WHAT MAY HAPPEN *UDGE FOR YOURSELF 2EVEREND -OTHER HOW GREAT ARE THE CONTENTMENT AND SATISFACTION HE ENJOYS #ONSTANTLY PERCEIVING SO GREAT A TREASURE WITHIN HIMSELF HE HAS NO ANXIETY ABOUT l NDING NOR ANY ABOUT SEEKING IT IT IS COMPLETELY ACCESSIBLE AND HE IS FREE TO MAKE USE OF IT AS HE PLEASES ,ET US PROl T FROM THE EXAMPLE AND SENTIMENTS OF THIS FRIAR LITTLE KNOWN IN THE WORLD BUT KNOWN AND CARESSED BY 'OD $ESPITE THESE EXPERIENCES "ROTHER ,AWRENCE REMAINED A SIMPLE LAY BROTHER AND HE NEVER CONCEIVED OF HIS PRACTICE AS EXCLUSIVELY THE DOMAIN OF A SPIRITUAL ELITE FOR ANY SPECIAL CLOISTER (E WRITES TO A LAYWOMAN h7E DO NOT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN CHURCH TO BE WITH 'OD 7E CAN MAKE OF OUR HEARTS AN ORATORY v .OR DOES THE PRACTICE PRESUPPOSE GREAT SANCTITY OR FULL MASTERY OF ALL THE PRECEPTS ,AWRENCE NOTES h'OD SEEMS TO CHOOSE THE WORST SINNERS TO GIVE THE GREATEST GRACES RATHER THAN THOSE WHO REMAIN INNOCENT

BECAUSE THAT SHOWS HIS MERCY MORE v 4HE SPIRITUAL WRITER AND PSYCHIATRIST 'ERALD -AY ALSO VERY MUCH STRESSES THE SIMPLICITY OF "ROTHER ,AWRENCE S PRACTICE AND THUS ITS AUTHENTICITY AND UNIVERSALITY !T ITS CORE THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS VERY SIMPLE *ESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THEY NEEDED TO BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN TO ENTER THE REIGN OF HEAVEN -AT THEW -OSES TOLD THE PEOPLE OF )SRAEL THAT THE 7ORD WAS NOT FAR FROM THEM THAT IT WAS ALREADY IN THEIR MOUTHS AND HEARTS $EUTER ONOMY ,IFE WITH 'OD THEN DOES NOT REQUIRE GREAT THEOLOGICAL SOPHISTICATION IT IS FOR EVERYONE .OR IS OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE RESTRICTED TO HALLOWED PLACES AND MOUNTAINTOP MOMENTS )T IS THE SIMPLE ESSENCE >HHJ: D8ID7:G

&R 2OBERT (ALE / 3 " #AM

OF LIVING MOVING AND HAVING OUR BEING IN 'OD IN EVERY PRESENT MO MENT WHEREVER WE l ND OURSELVES WHATEVER WE ARE DOING !CTS 3UCH IS THE WAY OF "ROTHER ,AWRENCE OF THE 2ESURRECTION &OR THREE CENTURIES HIS SIMPLE WISDOM HAS CROSSED DENOMINATIONAL BOUNDARIES AND THEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES TO INSPIRE SPIRITUAL SEEKERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD 4HE UNIVERSALITY OF HIS APPEAL IS EXTRAORDINARY BUT IT IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO THE VERY ORDINARINESS HE TAUGHT 4HE PRACTICE THIS PSYCHIATRIST ARGUES AIMS TO FOCUS OUR MINDS AND HEARTS IN A LIBERATING WAY AND THUS TO TRANSFORM OUR LIVES 4HERE IS A ROUGH EVEN TOUGH QUALITY IN HIS SINGLE MINDED DEDICATION TO THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF 'OD 4HERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE EITHER IN DISTRACTION OR IN REGRETS 4HERE IS NO TIME FOR FEAR OR WORRY NO PLACE FOR DESPAIR 4HERE IS HARDLY EVEN TIME FOR THINKING )N EVERY PRESENT MOMENT WE MUST GET ON WITH LIVING IN THE DIRECT IMMEDIATE LOVE OF 'OD .OTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS NOTHING MORE WORTHY OF OUR SERIOUS INTENT -AY NOTES THAT THIS PRACTICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE TO DO YET IT OPENS OUT TO INl NITELY GREATER RESOURCES THAT EMBRACE US AND CARRY US FORWARD "ROTHER ,AWRENCE MAINTAINS THAT THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF 'OD IS BOTH SIMPLE AND EASY !MERICANS MAY AGREE THAT IT IS SIMPLE BUT MOST OF US WILL NOT l ND IT SO EASY 7E WILL TEND AS WITH EVERYTHING TO LOOK AT IT AS SOMETHING TO ACHIEVE 7E WILL SEE IT IN TERMS OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE 7ITH THIS VIEW WE WILL l ND OURSELVES FAILURES AND THE PRACTICE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE 7E NEED TO LOOK AT IT IN "ROTHER ,AWRENCE S WAY AS AN ENDEAVOR REQUIRING OUR SINCERE DESIRE AND EARNEST DEDICATION BUT WHOLLY DEPENDENT UPON 'OD S GRACE 4HEN EVEN IN OUR FAILURES WE COME BACK TO 'OD S PRESENCE TO 'OD S MERCY 7ITH "ROTHER ,AWRENCE

WE CAN SAY TO 'OD h)T S UP TO YOU vv s .OTES 4HIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED TO THE THIRD ANNUAL .ORTHERN #ALIFORNIA #HAN :EN #ATHOLIC $IALOGUE HELD AT THE 3AN &RANCISCO :EN #ENTER IN *ANUARY 3EE FOR INSTANCE #ONRAD $E -EESTER /#$ h'ENERAL )NTRODUCTIONv IN "ROTHER ,AWRENCE OF THE 2ESURRECTION 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD #RITICAL %DITION

TRANS 3ALVATORE 3CIURBA /#$ 7ASHINGTON $ # )NSTITUTE OF #ARMELITE 3TUDIES

XXXII AND FF 4HIS PAPER WILL UTILIZE FOR ALL ITS QUOTATIONS FROM "ROTHER ,AWRENCE THIS EDITION OF 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD D 00' HEREAFTER IN THE NOTES ' (ENRI .OUWEN h&ORWARDv IN "ROTHER ,AWRENCE OF THE 2ESURRECTION 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'ODD .EW 9ORK )MAGE "OOKS

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4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'OD .OUWEN

3EE FOR INSTANCE THE NOTES OF %LMER ( $OUGLAS IN HIS 4HE +ITCHEN 3AINT AND THE (ERITAGE OF )SLAM .EW *ERSEY 0RINCETON 4HEOLOGICAL -ONOGRAPH 3ERIES 3EE ALSO 7ILLIAM *OHNSTON 3 * 4HE -IRROR -IND :EN #HRISTIAN $IALOGUE .EW 9ORK &ORDHAM 4HE 3TILL 0OINT 2Em ECTIONS ON :EN AND #HRISTIAN -YSTICISM .EW 9ORK (ARPER AND #HRISTIAN :EN .EW 9ORK (ARPER 2ECENTLY TWO OF MY GRADUATE STUDENTS CHOSE INDEPENDENTLY FOR THEIR TERM PAPER TOPICS A COMPARISON BETWEEN 4HE 0RACTICE OF THE 0RESENCE OF 'ODD AND A :EN SOURCE ONE WORKING WITH $OGEN THE OTHER WITH 6 SUDDHIMAGG A GA 4HE 0ATH OF 0URIl CATION $E -EESTER XIX XXII 4ERESA OF !VILA 4HE #OLLECTED 7ORKS 7ASHINGTON $ # )NSTITUTE OF #ARMELITE 3TUDIES

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00' n N 00' &OR THE REFERENCES TO *OHN OF THE #ROSS SEE $E -EESTER N 3EE FOR INSTANCE 0SALMS AND ,UKE h4HEN *ESUS TAUGHT THEM A PARABLE ABOUT THEIR NEED TO PRAY ALWAYS v 3EE ALSO *OHN FF h!BIDE IN ME AS ) ABIDE IN YOU *UST AS THE BRANCH CANNOT BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF UNLESS IT ABIDE IN THE VINE NEITHER CAN YOU UNLESS YOU ABIDE IN ME ) AM THE VINE YOU ARE THE BRANCHES 4HOSE WHO ABIDE IN ME AND ) IN THEM BEAR MUCH FRUIT !S THE &ATHER HAS LOVED ME SO ) HAVE LOVED YOU ABIDE IN MY LOVE v 3EE ALSO 4HES FF h2EJOICE ALWAYS

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF 'OD IN #HRIST *ESUS FOR YOU v ET AL TRANSLATIONS FROM THE .EW 2EVISED 3TANDARD 6ERSION 2EGARDING THE 0SALM TEXTS SEE THE STRIKING RENDERING OF TWO OF THEM BY .ORMAN &ISCHER /PENING TO 9OU :EN )NSPIRED 4RANSLATIONS OF THE 0SALMSS .EW 9ORK 6IKING

h9OUR PRESENCE IS ALWAYS BEFORE ME -Y EYES ALWAYS LOOK ON YOU v 4HIS THEME CONTINUES THROUGH THE PATRISTIC AND MEDIEVAL PERIODS &OR INSTANCE A TEXT FROM AN EARLY FATHER #LEMENT OF !LEXANDRIA C nC UTILIZED TODAY IN COLLECTIONS OF LITURGICAL READINGS STRESSES h.OR MUST WE CONl NE OUR WORSHIP TO SPECIAL DAYS BUT OFFER IT PERPETUALLY THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES AND IN EVERY WAY SO HE WHO POSSESSES TRUE KNOWLEDGE HONORS 'OD IN NO SPECIl C PLACE OR APPROPRIATE SANCTUARY STILL LESS AT CERTAIN FEASTS OR ON DEl NITE DAYS BUT EVERYWHERE AND ALL HIS LIFE ;3=URELY ONE WHO IS ALWAYS IN THE PRESENCE OF 'OD THROUGH SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND A LIFE OF CEASELESS THANKSGIVING CANNOT HELP BUT BECOME A BETTER PERSON IN EVERY WAY IN DEED WORD AND THOUGHT 3UCH IS THE MAN WHO IS CONVINCED OF 'OD S PRESENCE EVERYWHERE REFUSING TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS ENCLOSED IN ANY SPECIl C PLACE 4HEN BECAUSE OF THIS CONVICTION OF OURS THAT 'OD IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE OUR WHOLE LIFE BECOMES A CELEBRATION v #LEMENT OF !LEXANDRIA %X LIB 3TROMATUM

M IN ! 7ORD IN 3EASON 2EADINGS FOR THE ,ITURGICAL (OURS 6ILLANOVA 0! !UGUSTINIAN 0RESS 6))

4HE l RST %NGLISH TRANSLATION APPEARED IN $E -EESTER XXIII SEE ALSO XLI N )BID

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&R 2OBERT (ALE / 3 " #AM 00'

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